We’ll see temperatures near 100 again into the weekend in Interior Mendocino and Lake Counties. The National Service has put out a heat advisory through 11p Saturday. They’re urging you to follow hot weather guidelines because the heat risk will be moderate to major in some places. The fire weather forecast predicts that the hot and dry conditions will add to the fire risk into next week. The positive news is that winds should stay calm, and there is a low risk of dry lightning.
With the continued risk of fires, additional restrictions are in place in the Mendocino National Forest, officials say. Restrictions in place until the end of the fire season include a ban on Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or the designated recreation sites, and operating an internal combustion engine, except on National Forest System roads or trails. There are some limited exceptions. With a valid California Campfire Permit, visitors may use portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel. Additionally, visitors with a valid California Campfire Permit may enjoy a campfire or stove fire in the Designated Fire Safe Recreation Sites. There is more on the restrictions and how you can get a permit on the National Forest Service website.
The Save the Redwoods League is urging people to contact state legislators after it says the assembly is holding up 9 million earmarked for climate resilience and approved by voters in November. The league says Prop 4 money is vital to protect natural resources from the threat of climate change–and that voters have spoken in agreement.
PG&E says a recent drop in water released from Lake Pillsbury was planned and approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but farmers and ranchers say they were caught by surprise. This is an important time for irrigation, and when water flow into canals below the dam dropped dramatically earlier this month. Some farmers were worried that the reduced pressure was an early part of PG&E’s plan to decommission the Scott Dam. PG&E says the level change had nothing to do with those plans but was approved as part of the utility’s annual water management. The reduced flow is expected to continue into the fall. Even if decommissioning and dam removal are approved, the soonest it would start to affect the water flow would be 2028.
